May 31 marks the birthday of Ogtay Zulfugarov, People's Artist of Azerbaijan and renowned composer.
Born in 1929 in the village of Pirshagi, Baku, into a judge's family, he studied cello at music school and later at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he was a student of the great composer Gara Garayev.
Zulfugarov made significant contributions to children's music. He authored operas like "Girl-Star", "Cat and Sparrow", and "Forest Tale". His musical comedy "Shangulum, Shungulum and Mangulum", concertos for cello and flute, symphonic poems, cantatas, four symphonies, and instrumental pieces are valuable parts of Azerbaijani music culture.
His overture "Rejoice, My People" for large symphony orchestra won a laureate title in Moscow in 1962. In 1958, after graduating from Garayev's class, he began composing children's songs on his teacher's advice.
Between 2010-2012, he wrote a two-act ballet "Magic Apple" based on the fairy tale "Malikmammad". He also authored music textbooks and led children's song theaters "Tumurcuq" and "Aysel" on Azerbaijani State Television, which gained wide popularity.
In addition to music, Zulfugarov wrote poetry, published in the collection "Aysel Sings". He was awarded the honorary titles "Honored Art Worker" in 1972 and "People's Artist" in 2000. In 2009, he received the "Shohrat" Order. He served as artistic director of the State Children's Philharmonic for many years.
He dedicated over 60 years to creating children's songs. His most famous works include the ballets "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" and "Magic Apple", operas "Forest Tale", "Cat and Sparrow", "Girl-Star", and the musical comedy "Shangulum, Shungulum and Mangulum". He also composed beloved children's songs like "Motley Goat", "Rooster with a Comb", "Dear Grandma", "My Books", "I Have a Car", "Sparrow", and "Santa Claus".
Zulfugarov composed music for films such as "Jirtdan", "Jirtdan's New Adventure", "Leyla and Her Friends", "Mother-in-Law", and "The Lion and the Two Oxen".
He passed away on August 31, 2016, at the age of 87, and was buried in the II Alley of Honor in Baku.
